Clam-shell bucket.



P. A. ORTON.

GLAM SHELL BUCKET.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7, 1909.

Patented Aug. 15,1911.

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COLUMBIA FLANOGRAPH c0.,wAsH|a'roN. 0, c4

- P. A. ORTON.

CLAM SHELL BUCKET.

APPLICATION FILED sun. 7, 1909.

1 ,OOO,839, Patented Aug. 15, 1911.

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ii [I COLUMBIA PLANOKIRAPH co., WASHINGTON. n. c.

PHILO A. ORTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SLAM-SHELL BUCKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1911.

Application filed September 7, 1909. Serial No. 516,433.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILO A. ORTON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clam-Shell Buckets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to clam-shell buckets.

Stated generally, the object of the invention is to provide an improved clam-shell bucket which shall be simple in construction, strong and durable and highly effective in its operation.

Specific objects of the invention are to provide a clamshell bucket so constructed and arranged that the over-all dimension of the bucket from top to bottom, when closed,

. will be relatively small and the spread of the scoops, when open, relatively large, as compared with other buckets of this type of which I have any knowledge; to provide an improved arrangement of the opening chains whereby their operation will be rendered most effective; to provide rigid stops for defining the closed positions of the scoops, to insure that the adjacent ends of the bottoms of the scoops will registerwith each other when closed; and to provide a clam-shell bucket the scoops of which are so constructed and supported that they may be readily reversed end for end and will operate equally'well in either position, thus practically doubling the life of said scoops.

A clam-shell bucket of my invention comprises the various features and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, in which my invention is fully illustrated-Figure 1 is a side view of a clam-shell bucket embodying my invention, the scoops of said bucket being shown in closed position in full lines and in open position in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is an end view ofmy improved clamshell bucket; and Fig. 3 is atop plan view thereof.

Referring now to the drawings, A designates, as a whole, the head of the bucket upon which the operative parts thereof are supported, B, B the scoops of the bucket, C, C links which pivotally connect the scoops B, B at points at or adjacent to their front ends with the head A, and I), D links which sired spaced positions by tie plates 2 se cured, as by rivets or the like, to both the upper and lower sides of. said channel bars 1. Secured in the channel bars 1 and projecting laterally at both sides thereof, are rods 3, 3} supported on the outer ends of which are rigid frames designated, as a whole, A A each consisting, as shown, of

spaced plates 4 rigidly secured together in desired spaced positions by angle plates 5 and 6 secured bet-ween the upper edges of said plates and between the sides thereof ad jacent to their lower edges, respectively, in any suitable manner, as by rivets, or the like. As shown, the holes in said frames A A 'which receive the rods 3, 3 are formed in the upper ends of plates 7, 7 secured to the inner surfaces of the plates 4 at both ends thereof in substantially vertical position and the ends of which extend both above and below the upper and lower edges of said plates 4 The frames A A are spaced laterally from the central frame A and are maintained in desired spaced positions by sections of pipes or tubes 8 of proper length inserted over the rods 3, 3

The upper ends of the supporting links C, G are pivoted upon the rods 3, 3 respectively. To insure adequate strength, the supporting links C, C are in duplicate at each side of the scoops B, B each comprising two link members connected to the rods 3, 3 one inside and the other outside of the frames A A respectively. The lower ends of the links C, C are pivotally connected to the scoops B, B respectively, at desired points adjacent to the front ends of said scoops my means of pins 9, 9 the ends of which are secured in suitable holes formed to receive them in the upper edges of said scoops and in off-set plates 10, 10 secured to the inner sides of said scoops. Said pins 9, 9 are held against; endwise embrace the bottoms D, D are pivotally connected to the frames A A between the lower ends of the plates 7, 7 secured. to opposite ends of said frame, the lower ends of which are bent inwardly to closely embrace the sides of said links, respectively. The lower ends of said links D, D are pivotally connected to the scoops B, B respectively, adjacent to their rear upper edges, by means of rods 12, 12 which extend across said scoops and the ends of which are secured in alined holes formed in the sides of said scoops and in off-set plates 13, 13 secured to the inner side walls of said scoops. The rods 12, 19. are preferably secured against endwise movement and also against rotation, by key plates 14, 14:

which are substantially similar to the key plates 11, 11 and are secured against rotation to the sides of said scoops in the same manner.

WVith the described construction, it is obvious that the links D, D will be positioned between the members of corresponding links C, C and that, when in the operation of the bucket said links C, G and D, D cross, the links D, D will pass bet-ween the members of corresponding links C, C respectively. In this manner an unobstructed space is formed between the links C, C at opposite sides of the bucket, thus providing for bracing the bucket transversely, as presently described.

To provide for reversing the scoops B, B said scoops are made symmetrical on both sides of central, transverse planes and are provided with duplicate sets of holes to receive the pins 9, 9 v and the rods 12, 19. located symmetrically at opposite sides of the centers of said scoops, respectively. As shown, the off-set plates 10, 10 extend over both holes or openings designed to receive the pins 9, 9 The plates 13, 13 however, are provided at the rear ends only of said scoops B, B my invention contemplating transferring said plates to the opposite ends of said scoops when it is desired to reverse said scoops, suitable bolt or rivet holes be ing provided for attaching said plates at both ends of said scoops. If desired, my invention contemplates two sets of plates 13, 13 permanently secured to both ends of said scoops.

The rear ends ofthe scoops B, B are preferably closed for a distance above the bottoms thereof by means of plates 15, 15 duplicate sets of bolt or rivet holes being provided at opposite ends of said scoops to provide for securing said plates 15, 15 in either end thereof.

The members of each duplicate link C, C are rigidly connected to each other by means of channel bars 16, 16 to opposite flanges of which the members of each of said links 0, C are rigidly connected, as by bolts or rivets. Said channels 16, 16 also formguards or shields for the scoop closing sheaves rotatably mounted in said links adjacent to their lower ends, as presently described.

Pivotal movement of the links C, C toward each other is limited by means of rigid stops formed, as shown, by the outer ends of blocks 17, 17 rigidly secured to the plates 4 in proper position, the relation being such that said links will strike said stops and further movement thereof be prevented when the adjacent ends of the scoops B, B are in contact with each other at the center line of the bucket. With this construction the inner ends of the walls of the scoops will always register with each other when said scoops are closed, whereas, without means for limiting the pivotal movement of said links, an opening might be formed between the bottoms of said scoops through which a portion of the contents of said scoops might run out in case excessive movement should be imparted to either thereof, causing the ends of said scoops to come into contact at either side of the center line of the bucket. Preferably, also, the bucket is braced transversely to prevent distortion thereof in case of uneven loading, or in case of an excessive resistance at one side of the bucket when the scoops are'being closed, which would bring the meeting edges thereof out of register laterally by diagonal braces 18 which connect the rods 3, 3 adjacent to the inner sides of the frames A A with the rods 19, 19 adjacent to the links 0, G at the opposite side of the bucket, the ends of said rods 19, 19 being secured in the links 0, C adjacent to the lower ends of said links.

To efiect the object of my invention, as it relates to securing a wide spread of the buckets when open, and a relatively small over-all vertical dimension of the bucket when closed, both sets of links C, C and D, D are pivoted to the frames A A at points located symmetrically at considerable distances on opposite sides of the transverse center line of the bucket, the pivotal points of the links D, D being preferably located substantially vertically below the pivotal points of the links G, C respectively. WVit-h this construction the spread of the scoops B, B will be equal to the throw of the links C, C D, D plus the distance between the points of pivotal attachment of said links to the frames A A and, as the over-all vertical dimension of the bucket, when closed, depends primarily on the lengths of the supporting arms, it is obvious that by my improved construction, a considerably greater spread can be secured with supporting links of the same length than would be the case if either of said sets of links was pivoted to the head A at a common point, in the manner heretofore common.

The ends of the hoisting cables 2O, 20 are anchored to the frames A A as shown by pins 21 secured in the plates 4 of said frames, which extend through loops or eyes in the ends of said cables. From said pins 21, 21 said hoisting cables pass around sets of sheaves 22, 22 rotatably mounted on the rods 19, 19 secured in the lower ends of the links G, C respectively, and comprising corresponding sets of two sheaves each at opposite sides of the bucket. sheaves 22, 22 said hoisting cables pass over guide sheaves or pulleys 23 rotatably mounted on bolts 24 secured in the frames A A and thence to the hoisting engine or other source of power, not shown, either directly or over suitable guide sheaves or pulleys. lVith the described construction it s obvious that hoisting tensions on the cables 20, 20 will exert a very powerful pull on the links 0, C in a direction to draw the same and with them the scoops B, B together. As previously stated, the curved channels 16, 16 form guards or shields for the sheaves or pulleys 22, 22

When the tension on the hoisting cables 20, 20 is released, the bucket is adapted to be opened by means of opening chains 25, 25 the upper ends of which are connected to a supporting cable 26 and the lower ends thereof, respectively, to the rear ends of levers 27, 27 pivoted between their ends to the rods 12, 12 respectively, and at their forward ends to the rods 19, 19 respectively. To provide for desired pivotal movement of the supporting links D, D relatively to each other when the bucket opens and closes, said levers 27, 27 are engaged with rods 19, 19 respectively, by means of slots 28, 28 through which said rods 19, 19 pass, respectively, and to provide for varying the leverage of the opening chains 25, 25 on the bucket scoops, said levers are provided with series of holes 29, 29 adjacent to their rear ends locatedv at different distances from the rods 12, 12 into any of which said opening chains may be connected.

Obviously, by proportioning the lengths of the slots 28, 28 so that when the scoops B, B are fully closed the rods 19, 19 will bear against the front ends of said slots, respectively, and when said scoops are fully opened said rods will bear against the rear From the ends of said slots, said slots and rods will together form stops adapted to limit the pivotal movement of the scoops B, B and of said levers consists of two similar plates 30 spaced apart by interposed spacing blocks 31 and are rigidly secured together and to said spacing blocks to form a substantially unitary structure by suitablemeans, as by bolts or rivets. Said levers 27, 27 are maintained in desired operative positions on the rods 12, 12 by means of pipe sections 32 inserted over said rods 12, 12 between the sides of said levers and the sides of the offset bearing plates 13, 13 on the scoops B, B Between the supporting cables 26 and the levers 27 27 the opening chains 25, 25 are confined between sheaves or pulleys 33, 33 rotatably mounted at opposite ends of the central frame A between the channel bars 1 thereof and sheaves or pulleys 34, 34 rotatably mounted in the ends of pivoted arms 35, 35 pivoted to said central frame A at points respectively coincident with the axis of the sheaves or pulleys 33, 33 The sheaves 33, 33 operate to spread the opening chain 25, 25 when the scoops B,B are in closed position and during the initial part of their opening movement, and the sheaves 34, 34: operate to draw in said opening chains during the final part of the opening movement of said scoops, the relation being desirably such that the sections of said opening chains between the levers 27, 27 and the sheaves 33, 33 and 34, 34 will act approximately at right angles to the ends of said levers to which they are connected, respectively, that is, substantially at right angles to right lines passing through the points of pivotal attachment of the links C, G and D, D to the scoops B, B respectively.

With the described construction it is obvious that the tension of the opening chains 25, 25 will exert a very effective turning moment on the scoops B, B tending to open the same and also that the bodily downward movement of the bucket in opening will be less than if said opening chains extended straight from the supporting cable 26 to the bers, channel bars which rigidly connect the members of said links, respectively, means for opening said scoops and means for closing said scoops, said closing means comprising cables which are anchored to said bucket and sheaves rotatably mounted between the members of the front supporting links, the channel bars which connect the members of said links surrounding the adjacent sides of said sheaves and forming guards therefor, substantially as described.

2. In a clam-shell bucket, the combination of a head, scoops, supporting links which pivotally connect said scoops with said head comprising two sets of supporting links connected to said scoops adjacent to their front and rear ends, respectively, means for closing said scoops and means for-opening said scoops, said opening means comprising opening chains or cables the lower ends of which are connected to the rear ends of levers pivoted between their ends adjacent to thevrear ends of the scoops and attheir front ends to the links which support the front ends of said scoops, the connection of said levers to said links being flexible to provide for pivotal movement of said links to open and close said scoops, substantially as described.

3. In a clam-shell bucket, the combination of a head, scoops, supporting links which pivotally connect said scoops with said head comprising two sets of supporting links connected to said scoops adjacent to their front and rear ends, respectively, means for closing said scoops and means for opening said scoops, said opening means comprising opening chains or cables, the lower ends of which are connected to the rear ends of levers pivoted between their ends adjacent to the rear ends of the scoops and at their front ends to the links which support the front ends of said scoops, the connections of said levers to said links comprising slots in one thereof and rigid projections on the other which extend through said slots to provide for pivotal movement of said links to open and close said scoops, substantially as described.

4. In a clam-shell bucket, the combination of a head, scoops, supporting links which pivotally connect said scoops with said head comprising two sets of supporting links connected to said scoops adjacent to their front and rear ends, respectively, means for closing said scoops and means for opening said scoops, said opening means comprising opening chains or cables the lower ends of which are connected to the rear ends of levers pivoted between their ends adjacent to the rear ends of the scoops and at their front ends to the links which support the front ends of said scoops, the connectionsrof said levers to said links comprising slots in one thereof and rigid projections on the other which extend through said slots to provide for pivotal movement of said links to open and close said scoops, the relation being such that contact of said rigid projections with the opposite ends of said slots will define the fully opened and closed positions of said scoops, substantially as described. I

5. In a clam-shell bucket, the combination of a head, scoops, supporting links which pivotally connect said scoops with said head comprising two sets of supporting links connected to said scoops adjacent to their front and rear ends, respectively, means for closing said scoops and means for opening said scoops, said means for opening said scoops comprising opening chains or cables, levers pivoted between their ends adjacent to the rear ends of the scoops and at their front ends to the links which support vthe front ends of said scoops, to which the rear ends of said chains or cables are connected, sheaves or pulleys rotatably mounted in the head of the bucket at opposite sides of the center thereof, arms pivoted to said head and sheaves or pulleys rotatably mounted in said pivoted arms, each opening chain or cable passing between a sheave or pulley mounted in said head and a sheave or pulley mounted in said pivoted arms, the relation being such that said sheaves or pulleys will confine said chains or cables so that they willat all times act approximately at right angles to right lines passing through the points of pivotal attachment of the supporting arms to said scoops, respectively, substantially as described.

6. In a clam-shell bucket, the combination of a head, scoops, supporting links which pivotally connect said scoops with said head adjacent to their front and rear ends, respectively, the supporting links connected adjacent to the front endsof said scoops each comprising spaced members and the supporting links connected adjacent to the rear ends of said scoops being positioned between the members of corresponding supporting links connected adjacent to the front ends of said scoops, and diagonal braces which connect rigid parts of said bucket at opposite sides thereof between the links connected adjacent to the front ends of said scoops, substantially as described.

7 In a clam-shell bucket, the combination of a head, scoops, supporting links which pivotally connect said scoops with said head adjacent to their front and rear ends, respectively, the supporting links connected adjacent to the front ends of said scoops each comprising spaced mem bers rigidly connected to each other adjacent to their lower ends and the supporting links connected adjacent to the rear ends of said scoops being positioned between the members of corresponding supporting links connected adjacent to the front ends of said scoops, and diagonal braces which connect rigid parts of said bucket at opposite sides thereof between the links connected adjacent 5 to the front ends of said scoops, substantially as described.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing Copies of this patent may be obtained for as my invention, I afiix my signature in presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses, this 31st day of August, A. D. 1909.

PHILO A. ORTON. Witnesses K. A. CosTnLLo, F. E. BERGGREN.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

